Web-only letters to the editor, March 31, 2014

Dispatch.com regularly will post letters to the editor that don't make it to print in The Dispatch. Unlike letters to the editor that appear in the newspaper, Web-only letters have not been edited.

Dispatch.com regularly will post letters to the editor that don't make it to print in The Dispatch. Unlike letters to the editor that appear in the newspaper, Web-only letters have not been edited.

AEP's request

I recently read in the Columbus Dispatch that AEP is asking PUCO to allow them to add charges to its customers bills for a year to recover the costs of the wind damage in 2012. I want PUCO to know this: 60% of every AEP bill is for the following: 1. Distribution charge. 2. Customer charge. 3. Retail stability rider. 4. Deferred asset phased in rider.

At a time AEP is making record profits, I find it laughable that they have the nerve to go to the PUCO for more. I would like one of AEP's executives to answer these 3 questions. With 60% of our bills going to distribution costs, i.e. line maintenance, why doesn't AEP set aside money to cover the costs of storm damage? And with the money we already pay to them, why do they not have better tree and branch cutting maintenance to lessen the effect of wind storms? Does AEP owe more to their executive's pay and bonuses and to their stockholders than they do to their customers?

Gary R. Barraclough, Jackson

Schools scandal

I am responding to Monday's (March 24) Dispatch article: "School probes far from over." From my perspective, it surely does seem that the data scandal in Columbus Public Schools is taking an awfully long time and is costing Columbus taxpayers inordinate amounts of money that could be better spent on student learning. After almost two years, it seems odd to read that, "It is still not clear who would bring criminal charges or against whom." To me the answer seems obvious: you bring criminal charges against the criminals who rigged student data and you do it through Ohio's Education Department. And then to read further that "three more lawyers are joining the department's (Education Department) professional-conduct division which is charged with investigating whether educators have engaged in misconduct," strikes me as ludicrous for lawyers to have to decide whether there was misconduct. Ask anyone in the street and they can answer that question for them! I say enough is enough. Let's get this scandal behind us and maybe the next levy might be passed!

Bernard Martin, Columbus

Increasing diversity

Reading the Dispatch article published Saturday March 22, 2014 titled “Firm Hired to Recruit Women and Minorities” I became increasingly troubled as I read this article. The article states that Mayor Michael Coleman ordered the City of Columbus Department of Public Safety to “try harder to increase diversity”. According to the article, “Mayor Coleman noticed that nearly all recent graduates from the police and fire academies were white men”. The City of Columbus is spending $80,000 in retaining Paul Werth Associates to work with city officials in devising a plan to recruit more women and minorities to become Columbus police officers and Columbus firefighters.

It appears as part of this plan the background standards were lowered. Columbus City Councilman Zach Klein, leader of the public-safety committee, apparently is endorsing the lowering of these standards by stating “Having diverse police and fire benefits the community”.

I believe diversity in the work place does indeed benefit the community, the employer and the employees of a company. However, I also believe lowering the standards for the sake of diversity in the arena of public safety is potentially dangerous. As a former firefighter I knew that my fellow firefighters were chosen based on a set of standards that selected the most qualified recruits available regardless of their ethnic background or gender.

Some will argue that the lowered standards were “background standards”, which may not directly affect the safety of their fellow citizens, fellow firefighters or police officers. I believe if the City of Columbus is able to fill the fire and police ranks with current standards and the best candidates are selected to provide the vital services they provide, there is not a compelling need to lower the standards to accommodate any particular demographic of our society. I believe public safety is not an area to ensure diversity by compromising entrance standards of potential recruits. The most qualified candidates should be selected regardless of race or gender.

The citizens of Columbus deserve to feel confident that when they need assistance the most qualified personnel will be responding. Mayor Coleman’s diversity directive based in part on his observation that “nearly all recent graduates of our fire and police academies were white men” should cause great concern to all Columbus citizens. Mayor Coleman is doing the citizens a disservice if he is more concerned that the majorities of graduates in our public safety academies were white males and prefers that diversity dictate candidate selection. The Columbus Fire and Police divisions currently provide exceptional service. Each and every recruit should be selected based on their ability regardless of race or gender. Lowering the standards in the name of diversity may have an application, but not in our public safety department.

Jay Hossfeld, Columbus

'Clean' energy

Allowing SB 58 to pass is not the right choice for the state of Ohio. It is a step backwards that doesn’t need to be taken. With its approval all of the clean energy jobs that have been created so far will be outsourced to other areas and states. The decision on SB 58 has been a long time coming. Currently, the state senate is considering halting the benchmarks that have been placed on the green energy standards. The GOP is letting big businesses and large utilities have a say in what happens with the progress being made for energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency for the state of Ohio is something that needs to happen. The state has the resources to be able to implement clean energy and it’s up to the combined efforts of the Senate and the citizens of Ohio to make sure that it happens. Green energy provides jobs for people and lowers health care costs as well as electric rates. Governor Kasich needs to reject this bill and not allow big businesses to control the outcome and the future of Ohio.

Krista Early, Columbus

Developing neighborhoods

As can be expected, another City of Columbus's neighborhood development plans has been ignored and appointees of our Mayor have performed as good foot soldiers should. By now, most neighborhood folks with any credibility that are involved with formulating neighborhood development plans know that they are not worth the paper they are written on when it comes time to confront the Board of Zoning (BZA) or Columbus City Council on variances and development standards. After hundreds of hours are spent by City employees and concerned citizens of our neighborhoods to create development standards, we are led to believe that these documents will be followed in good faith when a developer wishes to build something that does not conform to them. These plans are made only to give neighborhood folks a sense of hope and belief that they have some kind of input in how their community should look. They are a complete waste of time and taxpayers money. Things at the BZA have not changed in the 20 plus years since I spent time there on numerous occasions defending development plans of the University District. Only the faces have changed. As long as members of the BZA are appointed by the Mayor, most developers in this city will have their way. When you consider the amount of power BZA members hold, these members should be elected by the citizens of Columbus. Some of the current and past BZA members have no business serving in such an important position that has everlasting impact on our community. One BZA member once commented to me that he could not understand how I could be against a particular development when the Director of a certain city department was in favor of it. It was quite apparent that he could not reason on his own, but was merely serving on the board for the interest of others and voting has directed to. The term "Smart Growth" has become a thing of the past. If you want to develop anything of any size with any number of variances in Columbus at this time, just open your pocket book and you can become a player too.

Joe Motil, Columbus

Driving, texting

I grieve with WBNS-TV sports anchor Dom Tiberi for the tragic loss of his daughter, Maria, in a distracted-driving accident last September, and I support his efforts to pass a bill designating September as Safe Driving Awareness Month. A Dispatch article (today’s paper, page B4) on the subject states, “Ohio lawmakers passed a law banning texting while driving in mid-2012. The law also prohibits anyone younger than 18 from operating an electronic device while driving.” I have a problem with that.

Operating an electronic device while driving should be prohibited, PERIOD. How is dialing a telephone number (by anyone, of any age) any less distracting than texting? Both activities require taking one’s eyes off the road. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen drivers drift through red lights or fail to signal a turn, only to see the person with a phone glued to his or her ear. Drivers should be required to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. Piloting a deadly weapon requires 100% of a drivers’ attention.

No hand-held devices while driving. PERIOD.

Mike Adamkosky, Columbus

Health care

Your editorial of March 24 (“Pay less and get less: Health-care-exchange plans often exclude top cancer centers.”) complains that Marketplace plans often exclude top cancer centers. In doing so, you blame the Affordable Care Act for these and other “unpleasant surprises” that are actually flaws in the current insurance system – flaws that the Affordable Care Act is designed to correct.

Indeed, some Marketplace plans need broader provider networks. But, as your editorial states, we need state insurance regulators, such as the Ohio Department of Insurance, to press for “clearer disclosure,” as well as more robust provider networks. ODI needs to embrace, instead of discourage, public input into the review process.

Nonetheless, especially for those who qualify for premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies, the new availability of affordable coverage options is a major advance.

Ironically, people with a history or diagnosis of cancer are among the many beneficiaries of the Affordable Care Act. As of January 1, 2014, they can no longer be denied insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition. In Columbus, several plans include OSU’s James Comprehensive Cancer Center. Other plans include different hospitals, all of which provide high–quality cancer treatment.

To achieve affordable coverage with robust provider networks, insurers and providers will need to change how they do business, with or without state and federal regulatory help. But don’t blame the ACA for our broken health care system. Applaud that the law is starting to tackle those problems. And encourage every Ohioan to sign up for insurance.

Cathy J. Levine

UHCAN Ohio

Columbus

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.